1402 . Shri DILIP SINGH JU DEV
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of Grameen Dak Sewaks working in post offices in various States including Chhattisgarh tribal region, State-wise;

(b) the monthly stipend being paid to these Sewaks;

(c) whether the Government proposes to increase their stipend in view of steep rise in inflation and also introduce welfare measures for them; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (Dr. (Smt.) KILLI KRUPA RANI)

(a) As on 01.01.2013, the total working strength of various categories of Grameen Dak Sewaks is 263326 including 2458 Grameen Dak Sewaks working in Chhattisgarh Tribal Region. State-wise and UT wise details is at Annexure I.

(b) Grameen Dak Sewaks are paid Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) & other admissible allowances as approved by Cabinet and not stipend, the details of which are at Annexure II.

(c) Grameen Dak Sewaks are in receipt of Dearness Allowance which is linked to price rise/ inflation on the admissible TRCA at the same rate as allowed to regular Central Government employees and which is revised twice in a year based on price index. The Government has also introduced various welfare measures for these Grameen Dak Sewaks.

(d) The details of welfare measures introduced for the Grameen Dak Sewaks are at Annexure III.

LOK SABHA ANNEXURE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1402 DATED
6.03.2013

ANNEXURE I

S.

No.

Name of Circle/State/UTs

Working
Strength of Gramin Dak Sevaks as on 01.01.2013

GDS

SPM

GDS

BPM

GDS

MD

GDS

MC

GDS

MP

GDS

SV

Others

Total

1

Andhra Pradesh

0

13139

4694

4242

1941

175

2646

26837

2

Assam

0

3216

2906

1639

283

39

371

8454

3

Bihar

0

6307

5165

2598

360

86

553

15069

4

Chhattisgarh

0

2423

855

1545

147

13

26

5009

5

Delhi

0

77

26

14

24

30

6

177

6

Gujarat

0

6768

4619

1396

702

63

296

13844

6a

Dadar & Nagar Haveli (UT)

0

5

45

0

0

0

0

50

6b

Daman & Diu (UT)

0

7

17

0

0

0

2

26

7

Haryana

0

1972

1050

708

233

18

4

3985

8

Himachal Pradesh

0

2247

2614

1068

312

13

61

6315

9

Jammu & Kashmir

0

1368

506

754

95

8

0

2731

10

Jharkhand

0

2461

1539

1286

154

35

407

5882

11

Karnataka

0

7777

4681

1235

1789

66

249

15797

12

Kerala

0

3443

5765

852

1259

138

165

11622

12a

Lakshadweep (UT)

2

1

1

0

5

0

0

9

12b

Puducherry (UT)

0

3

5

1

1

0

0

10

13

Madhya Pradesh

0

5632

2498

4056

290

22

229

12727

14

Maharashtra

0

10122

6939

1644

1115

46

27

19893

14a

Goa (State)

0

147

128

21

54

1

2

353

North East

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

15

Arunachal Pradesh (State)

0

198

166

27

30

2

11

434

16

Manipur (State)

0

591

495

627

40

1

1

1755

17

Meghalaya (State)

0

332

389

262

41

0

0

1024

18

Mizoram (State)

0

285

234

281

12

0

98

910

19

Nagaland (State)

0

279

254

237

35

3

0

808

20

Tripura (State)

0

514

416

290

53

1

65

1339

21

Orissa

1

5798

4863

3209

929

41

110

14951

22

Punjab

0

2831

1642

960

227

15

0

5675

22a

Chandigarh (UT)

0

8

13

0

16

2

0

39

23

Rajasthan

0

7460

2371

3014

439

37

49

13370

24

Tamil Nadu

0

8656

8475

1325

2168

269

682

21575

24a

Puducherry (UT)

0

41

49

0

15

4

0

109

25

Uttar Pradesh

0

12659

10991

4127

1311

315

1262

30665

26

Uttarakhand

0

2122

2218

1322

236

9

217

6124

27

West Bengal

0

5370

4985

3337

777

315

339

15123

28

Sikkim (State)

0

53

74

19

5

0

0

151

28a

Andaman & Nicobar (UT)

0

171

203

102

0

8

0

484

Total

3

114483

81891

42198

15098

1775

7878

263326

Chhattisgarh Tribal Region

0

1068

422

911

48

2

7

2458

Annexure II

Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) of Gramin Dak
Sevaks

[Implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2006]

S.

No.

Category of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS)

TRCA effective from 01.01.2006

For Work load ( in hours )

1

GDS Branch Postmaster

Rs 2745-50-4245

Up to 3 hours

Rs 3200-60-5000

More than 3 hours and up to 3 hours 30 min

Rs 3660-70-5760

More than 3 hours 30 min and up to 4 hours

Rs 4115-75-6365

More than 4 hours and up to

4 hours 30 min

Rs. 4575-85-7125

More than 4 hours 30 min and up to 5 hours

2

GDS Mail deliverer/

Stamp

vendor

Rs 2665-50-4165

[for new entrants]

Up to 3 hours

Rs 3330-60-5130

More than 3 hours and up to 3 hours 45 min

Rs 4220-75-6470

More than 3 hours 45 min and up to 5
hours

3

GDS Mail Carrier/

Packer/ Mailman

Rs 2295-45-3695

[for new entrants]

Up to 3 hours

Rs2870-50-4370

More than 3 hours and up to 3 hours 45 min

Rs 3635-65-5585

More than 3 hours 45 min and up to 5
hours

Note:

Besides the TRCA, the GDSs also get Dearness Allowance at
the same rate as admissible to Central Government employees. Gramin Dak Sevak
Branch Postmasters get Office Maintenance Allowance @Rs.100/- per month &
Fixed Stationery Charges @Rs.25/- per month. Other categories like
Gramin Dak Sevak Mail Deliverers and Mail Carriers get Cycle Maintenance
Allowance @ Rs.60/- per month.

Annexure III

EXISTING WELFARE SCHEMES INTRODUCED FOR GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

1

Maternity Grant

Women GDS are provided Maternity Grant for
each child up to the birth of maximum of two children limited to maximum of
two confinements resulting into birth of first two children only during the
entire engagement period of a Woman GDS equivalent to three months TRCA with
DA. Women GDS’s like Mail Deliverer and Mail Carrier have also
been prescribed to be considered for lighter duties wherever possible during
the pre and post confinement period.

2

Maternity Leave

Women GDS have also been provided to be
granted maternity leave not exceeding six months covering the pre and post
confinement period.

3

Extra Departmental Group Insurance Scheme

Gramin Dak Sevaks are provided with
insurance coverage of Rs. 50000/- under the Group Insurance Scheme available
to them on death.

4

Service Discharge Benefit Scheme

A Service Discharge Benefit Scheme has been
introduced by the Government for the benefit of Gramin Dak Sevaks working in
the Department of Posts on monthly contribution basis (from Department’s side
only @ Rs. 200/-pm) devised on the basis of New Pension Scheme (NPS)-Lite
scheme launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority
(PFRDA). This Scheme has been offered in lieu of the existing
Severance Amount Scheme on an optional basis for the existing Gramin Dak
Sevaks while it is mandatory for the new Gramin Dak Sevaks entering into
service with effect from 01.01.2011. The Scheme provides a
certain percentage as lump sum at the time of discharge plus mandatory
investment of certain percentage in annuity that would provide them monthly
benefits in the shape of pension.

5

Leave

Gramin Dak Sevaks are allowed to be granted
20 days paid leave in a year without accumulation.

6

Limited Transfer Facility

Gramin Dak Sevaks are provided with the
facility of limited transfer in cases of posting at a distant place on
redeployment in the event of abolition of the post, on being appointed on
compassionate grounds and posted at distant place, on marriage/remarriage of
woman GDS, on suffering extreme hardship due to a disease and for medical
attention/treatment of self on production of valid medical certificate from
the medical officer of a Government Hospital and on requirement of looking
after the welfare of a physically handicapped/mentally handicapped
person/dependant requiring to move to different places to give support to
such dependant. Such facility is provided for only one transfer during the
entire career and on rendering a minimum service of 3 years subject to
fulfillment of other conditions. Based on recommendation made by one man
Committee, an exception has been made for women Gramin Dak Sevaks, who
availed the transfer facility on the ground of extreme hardship due to a
disease and for medical attention/treatment before their marriage and now
they can avail the facility for a second time in the event of their
marriage/re-marriage.

7

Assistance from Welfare Fund

Following assistance from welfare fund are allowed to
the Gramin Dak Sevaks:-

S.

No.

Name of Welfare
Scheme

Admissible amount of
Financial Assistance

1

Financial Assistance in case of death

Rs. 7000/-

2

Death occurring due to enemy action in war or border
skirmishes or action against militants, terrorists, extremists, etc.

Rs. 1,50,000/-

3

Funeral Expenses*

Rs.500/-

4

Nutritional diet to the GDS suffering from
Tuberculosis :

(a) Indoor
treatment.

(b) Outdoor
treatment.

Rs.400/- p.m.

Rs.200/- p.m.

5

Financial Assistance in case of prolonged and serious
illness / major surgeries

Rs. 5000/-

6

Scholarship and book award scheme

To ensure better coverage for GDSs, their wards be
granted relaxation by 10% marks as in case of SCs/STs and OBCs, in so far
as grant of book award is concerned.

*Payable from the Circle Welfare Fund, only in cases in
which last rites of deceased Postal Employee are performed by brothers or
sisters or near relatives in the absence of any other next of kin.

8

Compassionate Engagement

A new transparent Scheme for engagement of dependents
GDS on compassionate grounds with merit points and procedure for selection
has been introduced allocating points for each attribute of indigence on a
100 Point Scale. Spouse [widows] has been allowed 15 grace points over and
over. Hard and deserving cases have been prescribed as cases over and above
50 Points.

9

Medical Facilities

GDS being a separate and distinct category, they are
not covered by CS (MA) Rules and they are also not extended the CGHS
facility. Under the existing provisions, they are allowed financial
assistance to the extent of Rs. 5000/-from Circle Welfare Fund provided such
GDS must have put in at least six years of service in the Department, treatment
should have been taken from Government hospital and produced medical
certificates and the illness is at least 2 months old. Regional/Circle Heads
have been conferred discretionary powers to sanction financial assistance to
the extent of Rs. 10000/- in each case. In rare and exceptional
circumstances, further financial assistance can also be considered from
Central Welfare Fund.

10

Avenues for absorption on regular departmental posts

GDS being Extra Departmental, their absorption as
departmental employee to the cadre of MTS/Postman/PA is through direct
recruitment under the statutory recruitment rules. Under the statutory
Recruitment Rules of the cadre of MTS, GDS are considered for 25% vacancies
against seniority quota and further 25% vacancies through Limited
Departmental Examination (LDE). As per Recruitment Rules of Postman cadre,
GDS are considered against 50% vacancies through LDE. In addition, GDS can
also be considered for direct recruitment to the post of Postal Assistant
(PA) / Sorting Assistant (SA) against unfilled promotion quota vacancies of
PA/SA on the basis of examination subject to fulfillment of the following
conditions as on 01st January of the vacancy year:-

(i) GDS
should have obtained at least 50% marks in 10+2 standard or 12th class
with English as a compulsory subject (excluding vocational streams) and have
put in a minimum service of 5 years

(ii) They
should be within 30 years of age (35 years for SC/ST & 33 years for OBC)

The number of Grameen Dak Sewaks working in post offices in various States including Chhattisgarh tribal region, State-wise. Existing Welfare schemes for Gramin Dak Sevaks. Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) of Gramin Dak Sevaks
[Implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2006]